Introduction: Spaceship for Kids Fold-able Made From Cardboard

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One day at work we have received a delivery of some items in two large boxes so I have decided to make a spaceship for my friend's little boy and took the empty boxes home. I was really excited about this little project of mine :-) ......

Step 1: 1st Step - Make a Drawing and Start Cutting

So the first step is really just to get started. The easiest thing to do from the start is to draw your vision on a piece of paper as once you have it black on white it is so much easier to then get to the finish :-) I have drawn the space ship from each view, top and bottom and also the interior.

Using a Stanley knife I cut a window and a door (only half way for easy opening) and then taped the edges with a cross weaved tape for rigidness. The front was extended using a part from the second box. Velcro has been fitted on the front with glue, stapler and tape so that the ship can be easily folded and put behind a wardrobe when not being used.

Step 2: More Velcro and Painting

I have cut 3 more windows on the other side and put more velcro bits on the sides. Started painting the outside with white acrylic gesso and white tempera - as that's what I had at home :-) (it took about 4 layers to cover the brown box though). I have bought 2 sheets of A3 acetate and put them together with a strip of clear tape. this was then cut to size and attached with a glue gun as the front window. I have turned the space ship upside down and painted the ceiling with black acrylic paint and then with black glitter paint.  

Step 3: More Painting and Spraying

After about 4 layers of white paint, I used a clear glitter paint for the outside and then started painting the inside white. I painted the outside of the door with silver acrylic paint and glitter. For the back door inside used blue acrylic paint. Then I measured and cut all sorts of shapes from thin white cardboard - for the window frames, door handles, exhausts (with velcro on one side) and all the bits and bobs I was going to decorate the ship with later. This was then sprayed (outside) with chrome project spray paint and some of them with glow in the dark spray (later on attached to different parts of space ship - including the the dashboard inside - I have attached some buttons that  then glow inside the ship) Used glue gun for attaching these.By the way all the bits that glow in the dark are on these pictures white-yellowy color. 

Step 4: Finish Painting and Start Adding Buttots Etc

After I have finished painting the inside, I have added some glow in the dark planets and then using glow in the dark paint (acrylic) and a brush, I painted stars and galaxies onto the ceiling. 

I was given some buttons and screens from old play stations and Nintendos etc by a local shop, which I have then glued on with a glue gun. Then glued the sprayed window frames and more acetates for the windows, door handle, drawn screws with a permanent marker and used a strip of silver ribbon for decoration.

I have also glued a piece of velcro on the back of circle touch lite (with batteries) and then on the wall; a piece of velcro on a joy stick and on the floor, so that when the ship is folded these bits can be detached. Glued a little handle from crushed aluminum foil for head phones and also glued a bit of velcro on a small portable radio.

Bought a silver fabric and glued it on the floor.     

Step 5: Finished Space Ship

And after many hours spent on the space ship it is finally finished :-) ..........

I have to say, It was hard to say goodby to this little project of mine as I had so much fun playing in it myself (especially when you leave a lamp inside for a bit to charge the ceiling and then watch the stars in the dark), but seeing my friend's little boy - how happy he was when he got it made it all worth while.... He plays in it all the time and I'm sure it'll last him forever... or I'd like to think so anyway :-)

 I've added this project as I am sure there are more Star Wars fans out there and it might be useful for some...

If you need any help or if I have forgotten to write about anything just let me know and I'll do my best to answer.

By the way, I would recommend this toy for children over 4 as in this spaceship project I have used a chrome paint, glow in the dark paints, and lots of little bits that could be swallowed, so be careful if you wish to do this for little children.  

I hope you've enjoyed this and as soon as I have got something new, I'll share it.

xxx Snow White's Creations